The Workaholic

Preoccupation with Time - A person who manages his or her time well is usually
dependable, reliable and an employer’s dream. It is usually a pleasure to do business
with such a person but there could be a problem. Sometimes a preoccupation with
time can signal that a person is a workaholic. This is not a new phenomenon but it
seems to be on the rise among young executives. So, exactly when do you cross the
line to being a workaholic? Here are a few questions that may help you determine if
you cross the line.

If all of your answers were Yes, you are already a workaholic. If more than two or
three answers were Yes, you are well on your way to becoming a workaholic.
Actually, the ideal would be for none of the answers to be Yes.

Is It Bad? - Perhaps you believe that being a workaholic is not something bad. You
may even think that it’s necessary to make the money you want to make and to meet
all the deadlines that are thrust upon you. Workaholics don’t have a good time of it.
Humans are not one-dimensional. Instead, they have many facets and interests that
must all be developed to have a full and happy life.

Sometimes it’s Necessary - It is important to understand that most of us have to
work harder than normal at certain times in order to meet certain deadlines or simply
complete certain projects to get a paycheck. This does not make you a workaholic.
There may be certain projects that require everyone in the organization to work as
hard as possible. It may take long hours to get it done on time. This is not an
unhealthy thing and contributes to good teamwork. It only becomes a problem when
this occurs day in and day out throughout the year.

It is Important - Work is important in our life but it is not the only important thing.
Being time conscious does not mean that you have to end up being obsessed with your
work. Actually, using time management you can get things done on time, and work
well within reasonable hours. This will allow you enough free time to enjoy your
leisure hours.

Burnout - Being a workaholic can lead to serious burnout. Here is a list of things that
could signal impending burnout.

Memory Loss - Do you experience flashes of memory loss?
Feeling Blank - Do you sometimes feel blank and cannot make heads or tails
of what you have to do next?
No Clue - You know there is lots of work to do but have no clue where to
start.
Irritability - You find yourself becoming increasingly irritable and lose your
temper easily.
Exhaustion - You feel mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the
day but still have restless nights and cannot get a good night’s sleep.
Weariness - Even after remaining in bed for six or seven hours you wake up
feeling weary.
Dark Circles - Your eyes start having dark circles around them.
Missing Meals - You tend to forget meal times and eat at the most
insensible times.
Caffeine and Nicotine - Instead of eating good meals you tend to sustain
yourself on caffeine and perhaps nicotine.
No Accomplishments - You find yourself working too hard but unable to
accomplish all that you want.

Get Some Help - If five or more of the things on the above list are true, it is time to
get some help before you ruin your life. These things can lead to insomnia, loss of
appetite and serious stress. It can also manifest itself as high blood pressure or even a
mental break down. Take a few minutes to determine if any of this applies to your
work and your life.

Living Well - Time management is not just about doing a good job, it is about living
life well and fully, with time for everything. That includes adequate time for work,
good relaxing meals, fun, and time to sit waiting for creative ideas.

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